Refrigerating apparatus



June 27, 1933. J. GLASS 1,915,276

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 29, 1930 Patented June 27,1933 v I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Joy 1). GLASS, or ARCADIA, cALmoRNIA RErBiGrmA'rINe APPARATUS Application filed August 29, 1930. Serial No. 478,625.

My invent-ion relates to a refrigerating ditions, thereby insuring safety of operaapparatus of that character known as the ret on of the apparatus. versing absorption type and has for its PIIHI-H' 1th the foregoing and other objects in cipal object the provision of a refr gerating view, my nvent on consists in certain novel 5 apparatus that is relatively simple III'COD- features of construction and arrangement of 5G st-ruction, inexpensive of manufacture, pracparts that w1ll hereinafter be more fully detically automatic in operation and which is scribed and claimed and illustrated in the acrelatively small, compact, portable and there company ng drawing in which: fore readily adaptedfor household and do- Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken through ti purposes f the center ofarefrigerating apparatus em- 55 Further objects .iof my invention are, to bodying the pr nciples of my invention. provide, in a refrigerating apparatus of the Fig. 21s a hor zontal section taken approxicharacter referred to, an adjustable radiator mately on the line 22 of Fig. 1. for controlling the heat that is applied to the Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a refrigerant container for the purpose of vacheck valve utilized for controlling the out- 60 porizing the same, also for controlling the let of vapor zedrefrigerant from the vaporexchange of heat from the vaporizer to the 12mg chamber. condenser and the refrigerating chamber Referr ng by numerals to the accompanywithin which said condenser is located, fur- 111g drawing which illustrates a practical emther, to provide an improved form of duct bodiment of my invention, 10 designates a 65 f the passage f vapgrized f i r t f closed tank that functions as the vaporizing the vaporizer to the condenser, further, to k d h ch 1S filled or partially filled provide improved means for battling the g t} sultablerefi'igerant,preferabllyiacom passage of vaporized refrigerant from the 111a 0 Tldiisti e water antd an ydrogs I vaporizer-to the condenser andfurther, to fi z eg g an sfgtggi g liiggl r ig gybl generally improve upon and simplify the y y p e a y p by being placed over a burner B. construction of the existing forms of sum In order to control the heat thatis pp refngeratlllg appallatust t to the vaporizing container, a radiator 11, Fltrthel: Oblects of my .mventlon a comprising a vertically disposed cylinder 15 Provlde slmple and l means m t 6 formed of sheet metal and provided with verform of a valve Preventmg the return of tically disposed corrugations, is disposed refrigerant gases l" to the 5 about the container 10 and the vertical edges SO further, Q p Tef1'1ge1'?tmg P of this radiator are connected by bolts 12. Paratus that is ofcompacbconstmctlon, As a result of the provision of the corruparatively light in weight so as to permit t d radiator, a decided advantage in the I it to be readily moved or shifted from one application of heat to the container 10 is position to another during operation, and provided during the generation of gas within further, to provide a refrigerating apparatus the generator, for the radiator PIIOVldGS a se- .having a heat measuring device such as a ries of vertical flues throughwhich the heat 5 thermometer which will enable the operafrom the burner passes during the heating of tion of the apparatus to be more readily 0bthe refrigerant w thin tank 1 0 and id fl served and ascertained and further, to proare alsoefiective in distributingair over the vide the apparatus with a relief valve that surface (of tank 10 during the absorption will act automatically under abnormal conprocess.

This construction permitsthe radiator to be adjusted vertically on the container and as a result a greater or less degree of heat or cooling fiuid may be caused to circulate upwardly over the surface of the container and consequently enabling the heating and vaporizing or the absorption of the liquid within said container to be accurately controlled. Thus the adjustable corrugated member 11 makes it possible to more accurately control the temperature within the refrigerator with which the apparatus is associated.

Arranged in the upper portion of the container 10 is a vertically disposed tube 13 closed at its lower end and positioned within said tube is a thermometer 14. Projecting upwardly from the top of tank 10 is a tube 15, the upper end of which is closed by a removable cap 16. Suspended within this tube 15 is a rod 17, which carries a series of spaced bafile plates 18 and 19. The baiiie plates 19 are smaller in diameter than the internal diameter of the tube 15, thereby providing annular spaces between the edge of each baffle plate and the wall of tube 15 and the alternately arranged plates 19 have the same diameter as the chamber within tube 15 and these plates 19 are provided between their outer edges and the suspending rod 17 with apertures 20. As a result of this arrangement the vapor passing upwardly through tube 15 must necessarily take a tortuous path.

During the passage of vapor upwardly through tube 15 the baffle plates 18 and 19 function as dehydrators to separate the water from the vapor and the water after accumulating in the lower end of tube 15 passes back into the tank 10, as hereinafter more fullv described.

Arranged centrally within the container 10 is an open ended tube 21, the upper portion of which projects through the top of the container 10 and upwardly -a short distance within the lower portion of tube 15, thereby forming a trap 22 in the lower portion of said tube 15. The lower end of tube 21 terminates a short distance above the bottom of container 10.

Arranged within the lower portion of tube 15 is a valve tube 23, the lower end of, which is open' and said open lower end communicating with the upper portion of the chamber in container 10 and resting on a seat at the upper end of this tube 23 is a ball check valve 24 and fronting same is a wire cage 25. This valve controls the outlet of ammonia gasfrom the container 10.

Leading horizontally from the. upper tube 15 is a tube 26 and the outer end thereof is connected to the upper end of a vertically disposed tube 27, which latter is spaced apart from tube 15 and container 10 and the lower end of said tube 27, which is closed. terminates in a plane slightly above the plane occupied by the bottom of container 10.

Suspended within the upper portion of tube 27 and spaced apart from the wall thereof is a receptacle 28 closed at its lower end and which serves as a sump for collecting the condensation of any ammonia gas that may occur in the upper portion of tube 27. Inasmuch as this receptacle 28 is filled or partially filled with liquid during operation of the apparatus, it functions to cool the gases that pass downwardly between said receptacle andthe wall of the tube 27 Extending through the wall of tube 27 below the lower end of sump 28 is a short horizontally disposed tube 29, the end thereof within tube 27 being closed, and formed in the lower portion of this tube 29 within tube 27, are apertures 30.

The outer open end of tube 29 is connected to the upper'portion of a condenser receptacle 31 and which latter is provided at its top with a normally closed filling nipple 32.

Extending horizontally through the lower portion of the condenser receptacle 31 is a housing 33, within which is arranged a removable drawer 34 that is adapted to receive products that are to be frozen or refrigerated. v

Arranged in the wall of container 31, preferably at a point below tube 29 is a safety blow-off plug or valve 35 and arranged above and in front thereof is a hood or deflector 36 which prevents gases from passing directly upward or outward in the event that said plug or Valve should open under excessive pressure.

Arranged within the outer portion of tube 26, adjacent to the point where the same joins the upper end of tube 27 is an upright baffie plate 37.

In the operation of my improved refri erator, the container 10 is positioned above a suitable heater, for instance, a burner B and the lower portion of pipe 27 and the condenser receptacle 31 are placed in a suitable receptacle X that contains a sufficient amount of water to entirely submerge container 31 and the lower portion of tube 27. A considerable portion of the heat and products of combustion that pass outwardly from the bottom of container 10 will pass upwardly between the corrugated member 11 and the side wall of container 10, thereby conserving the heat and by adjusting member 11 vertically upon member 10, the heat that is applied to said member 10 and the liquid contained therein may be accurately regulated. The thermometer 14 provides means for readily ascertaining the temperature within the vaporizing container 10.

The pressure of the vapor resulting from the heating of the liquid within container 10 unseats valve 24: and this vapor passes upwardly through the tortuous path formed by the bafile plates 18 and 19 in vertical tube '15 and the condensation of any of these vapors will pass downwardly from the baflles and accumulating in the trap 22.

As the condensed fluid arises above the open end of tubev 21 it will-pass downwardly therethrough to unite with the body of liquid in the receptacle 10.

The ammonia gas after passing upwardly through tube 15, passes outwardly through tube 26 over baffle 37, thence downwardly through the narrow annular space between tubes 27 and 28, thence through apertures 30 and thence through tube 29 into the chamber within condenser receptacle 31.

Inasmuch as container 31 is submerged in water, the gas entering said container will be condensed to a liquid since its heat has been transmitted to the water and as a result of the pressure built up by the heating of condenser 10.

After the desired amount of refrigerant has been driven out of tank 10 by the vaporization of said refrigerant and which ac tion will be indicated by thermometer 14,

tank 10 is removed from the burner and it 31, also by absence of may be then cooled for a few moments by being immersed in Water so as to hasten the return of the refrigerant to the tank.

Container 31 is now placedinside a refrigerator or other cooling chamber with the tank 10 on the exterior thereof and as the tank 10 cools, the pressure therein will be lowered, thereby causing the refrigerant to again vaporize and return to the absorbent within the tank 10, which has a. great attraction for the refrigerant.

The gas must return to tank 10 through tube 21, inasmuch as it cannot pass valve 24 on the top of tube 23. The gas-passing through tube 21 to the absorbent is taken up faster for the reason that tube 21 extends beneath the surface of the absorbent Within tank 10 and such arrangement roduces agitation within the absorbent, W ich causes the temperature to be lowered in cylinder 31 and the contents of tray 34, as well as causing lower temperature in the refrigerator or chamber within which tank 31 is located.

By adjustingthe position of radiator 11 on tank 10, the return of the gas to said tank may be hastened or retarded'and by so doing, the temperature in the refrigerator or chamber in which cylinder 31 is located may be very accurately regulated.

After the greater part of the refrigerant gas has returned to tank 10 and which action may be determined by the rising of the temperature in the refrigerator and cylinder gurglecaused by the absorption of gas by the liquidwithin tank 10, the'apparatus is ready to be reheated for a succeeding operation. After several heat- U-shaped tube connectin ings it may be necessary to drain the accumulated water content from the condenser cylinder 31 and tube 27 back to tank 10 since it is impossible to generate the gas without a certain amount of Water passing into the cylinder 31.

The operations just described may be carried on indefinitely since there is no loss of the contents of the apparatus.

A refrigerating apparatus of my improved construction is comparatively simple, is very compact and may be economically employed for domestic and household purposes.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts, of my improved refrigerating apparatus may be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a refrigerant vaporizing container, a vertically corrugated radiator surrounding and mounted for vertical adjustment upon said container, a condensing receptacle, a substantially inverted U-shaped tube connecting said vaporizing container with said condensing receptacle, an open ended tube extending from the lower portion of izing container to the interior of said inverted U-shap'ed tube at a point above the endthereof that is connected to said vaporizing container, a valve controlled inlet from the upper portion of the vaporizing chamher into the lower portion of the leg of the inverted U-shaped member that is connected thereto, which valve is located above the upper end of the open ended tube that extends from the vaporizing container into the inverted U-shaped tube and a receptacle suspended from the other leg of the inverted U-shaped tube and-spaced apart from the wall thereof. l

2. In a refrigerating apparatus,

a refrigerant vaporizlng contalner,

a corrugated radiator surrounding and mounted for ver-.

tical adjustment upon said container, a condensing receptacle,

a substantially inverted said vaporizing container with saidv con ensing receptacle, an open ended tube extending from the lower portion of the chamber in said vaporizing container tothe interior of said inverted U-shaped tube at a point above the end thereof that is connected to said vaporizing container, a valve controlled inlet from the upper portion of the' vaporizing chamber into the lower portion of the leg of the inverted the chamber in said vapor- U-shaped member that is connected thereto,

which valve is locatedabove the upper end of the open ended tube that extends from i the vaporizing container into'the inverted U-shaped tube, a plurality of spaced bafile plates arranged in the leg of the inverted U-shaped tube above said valve and a receptacle suspended in the other leg of said inverted U-shaped member and spaced apart from the wall thereof.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, a vaporizing chamber, a vertically corrugated radiator surrounding and mounted for vertical adjustment upon said chamber, a tube arranged in said chamber and leading from the lower portion thereof through the top of the chamber, a vapor conduit leading from the upper end of said tube, said conduit being closed at its lower end to form a trap about the upper end of said vapor outlet tube, a series of spaced bafile plates suspended within said vapor conduit above the upper end of the tube that projects into the lower end of said vapor conduit, a tube leading from the upper end of the vaporizing chamber upwardly into the lower portionof said vapor conduit, the upper end of which tube terminates in a plane above the upper end of the first mentioned tube and a downwardly seated check valve carried by the upper end of said second mentioned valve.

4. In a refrigerating apparatus, a vaporizing chamber, a vertically corrugated radiator surrounding and mounted for vertical adjustment upon said chamber, a tube arranged in said chamber and leading from the lower portion thereof through the top of said chamber, a vapor conduit leading from the upper portion of said tube, said conduit being closed at its lower end to form a trap about the upper end of said vapor outlet tube, a tube leading from the upper end of the vaporizing chamber upwardly into the lower portion of said vapor conduit, a series of baflie plates suspended within said conduit above said trap, the upper end of which tube terminates in a plane above the upper end of the first mentioned tube and a downwardly seating check valve carried by the upper end of said second mentioned valve.

5. A refrigerating apparatus, comprising a vertically disposed cylindrical vaporizing chamber, a vertically corrugated radiator surrounding and mounted for vertical adjustment upon said container, an inverted U-shaped vapor conduit having the lowerv end of one of its legs secured to the upper portion of said vaporizing chamber, an open ended tube leading from the lower portion of the vaporizing chamber into the lower portion of the leg of the inverted U-shaped tube that is connected to said vaporizing chamber, a tube leading from the upper portion of the vaporizing chamber into the lower portion of the chamber in the leg of the conduit that is attached to said vaporizing chamber, the upper end of said last mentioned tube terminating in a plane above the upper end of the first mentioned tube, a downward- 1y seating check valve arranged at the upper end of the second mentioned tube, a series of spaced bafile plates suspended within the leg of the vapor conduit that is connected to said vaporizing chamber, a baflle plate located in the horizontal leg of the inverted U-shaped vapor conduit, an open ended receptacle suspended within the other leg of the inverted U-shaped vapor conduit and an absorption receptacle connected to the lower portion of the vertical leg of the vapor conduit at a point below the closed lower end of the open upper ended receptacle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JoY' D. GLASS. 

